When I was at school, career advice generally consisted of flicking through a dusty binder in the library and being gently nudged towards a handful of conventional professions. There wasn't much discussion about global flexibility, tech directors, or unconventional trajectories! Ironically my Mum was right in my teenage years when she used to ask me if I had ever thought of being a teacher, but as is pretty normal with teenagers, I didn’t listen and needed to find that out for myself after a few years working in business. Having since worked across the world and experienced the joys of international teaching, I have seen first-hand just how non-linear life really is. Today's young people need far more than standard textbook answers; they need authentic human stories, genuine agency, and a window into the wider world to help them map out their own unique pathways to success.
That spirit of global connectedness arrived on our doorstep this week in the Grade 11/12 Common Room. Back in 2010, while living in Malaysia, I met a really interesting woman at a networking event named Gillian King, who was then serving as Vice President Asia Pacific for Tendeka in Kuala Lumpur. Fast forward sixteen years, and the world proved its legendary smallness once again as we found ourselves reunited right here in Aberdeen! Now the Sales Director at Unity, Gillian joined us as our guest speaker for our Career Spotlight series. She completely captivated our business management students by sharing her educational journey, pulling back the curtain on a typical "day in the life" in global tech, and taking a round of great student questions. Thank you Gillian for taking the time out of your busy morning to share your journey with us, and for a great catch up afterwards.
Moments like these sit at the very heart of our school mission. We believe that citizenship is the foundation of all education, and by giving our students a direct say in the careers they want to explore, we empower them to act as inquirers, open-minded thinkers, and reflective global citizens. We all know a holistic IB education at ISA is not just about academic rigour; it is about building confidence, exposing young minds to diverse experiences, and helping every student imagine how they might positively contribute to their future communities. Seeing our high school students actively leading the conversation over an early morning chat was a brilliant reminder of what happens when we trust student curiosity.
To keep these opportunities dynamic and responsive, our informal 15-to-20-minute Career Spotlight sessions run during morning advisory (8:15–8:35 AM), hosted either in-person or virtually for interested students. We are always eager to open our students' eyes to new possibilities, and our richest resource is our own community of alumni, parents, and friends. If you would be willing to share your own journey and professional life with our students, please do reach out to myself or our University and Careers Guidance Counsellor, Heather Barker. You never know whose future path you might inspire over a 20-minute morning coffee!
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